Seattle fire investigators have confirmed at least four arson cases across South Seattle in the past week, with two additional incidents still under review. The fires, concentrated in Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley, and Mount Baker, have prompted city officials to issue warnings and ask residents to stay alert during overnight hours, when the attacks appear to be occurring.
“We are asking for heightened awareness right now,” said Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins during a community briefing. “In the neighborhoods where these fires have happened, Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley, South Seattle, we want people to report anything out of the ordinary. Don’t wait. Call 911.”
The pattern of the fires suggests a possible serial arsonist targeting residential and commercial structures when most people are asleep. The most recent confirmed case involved Columbia Funeral Home and Crematory on Rainier Avenue South. Surveillance video captured an individual pouring a flammable liquid at the building’s entrance before the structure ignited. Roughly 30 minutes later, flames engulfed a nearby house under construction on South Hanford Street in Mount Baker, followed shortly by a smaller fire involving a backyard fence just down the street.
The first confirmed fire took place the previous Saturday at an unfinished home on 19th Avenue South. In each case, the incidents occurred in the early morning hours, often between midnight and 4 a.m., and in relatively close proximity, raising concerns about a coordinated campaign of property damage, if not worse.
The Seattle Police Department’s Arson and Bomb Squad is analyzing surveillance footage from city traffic cameras and private home security systems. Firefighters have also begun canvassing the affected neighborhoods, distributing flyers with practical fire safety recommendations.
Scoggins urged residents to take preventive measures: lock doors and windows, ensure exterior lights are working, particularly near backyards and alleys, and move flammable materials like garbage bins away from siding and fences. “These are small steps that can make a big difference,” he said.
For residents like Vicki Ebberts, who lives near one of the fire scenes, the sense of vulnerability is real. “When something like this happens while you’re sleeping, it forces you to confront how quickly things can spiral,” she said. Her family has since installed security cameras and started checking in more frequently with neighbors.
While no injuries have been reported so far, officials have acknowledged that the risk to life and property remains high, particularly if the arsonist continues to operate under cover of night. “We’ve seen in previous incidents that these kinds of patterns rarely resolve on their own,” Scoggins added.
The Arson Alarm Foundation is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to an arrest or conviction. Residents can submit tips anonymously by calling 1-800-55-ARSON or by emailing SFD_FIU@seattle.gov.
As the investigation continues, the situation has drawn renewed attention to the importance of neighborhood networks and early reporting.
